China is willing to deepen exchanges and cooperation with
Uzbekistan in the fields of defense and security, Defense Minister
Cao Gangchuan said in Bishkek Wednesday.
Cao, also vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission
and state councilor, made the remarks at a meeting with Uzbek
Deputy Defense Minister R. Niyazov.
China and Uzbekistan have witnessed smooth development in their
bilateral ties and frequent high-level exchanges since the two
countries established diplomatic relations 15 years ago, he
said.
Cao spoke of a meeting between President Hu Jintao and Uzbek
President Islam Karimov June 2006, when the two heads of state
reached important consensus on China-Uzbekistan ties and their
all-around cooperation in various areas at a summit of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO).
The two countries continuously push forward their cooperation in
the fields of trade and economy, energy, telecom and humanities,
Cao said, adding that China and Uzbekistan have conducted fruitful
cooperation within the framework of international multilateral
cooperation, such as the United Nations and the SCO.
China is grateful for Uzbekistan's support regarding the Taiwan
question and the crackdown on the "East Turkistan" terrorist
organization, and will unswervingly support the Central Asian
country's efforts in safeguarding national independence,
sovereignty and security, he said.
The development of a long-standing and stable China-Uzbekistan
friendly cooperative partnership is not only a settled policy of
the Chinese government, but also a common wish of the two peoples,
said Cao.
As for relations between the two nations' armies, he said China
will make concerted efforts with Uzbekistan to jointly safeguard
the two countries' security and boost the development of bilateral
relations.
For his part, Niyazov said the general situation remains stable
in Central Asia, but some inherent problems have not been
eliminated.
He termed terrorism and drug-trafficking as two unstable factors
in the region.
Uzbekistan must develop its armed forces to effectively cope
with challenges, Niyazov said, adding that his country is willing
to further enhance cooperation in defense and security between the
two neighbors and within the framework of the SCO.
Cao arrived here on Tuesday to attend a defense ministers'
meeting of the SCO, which comprises six member countries, namely
China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and
Uzbekistan.
The organization, founded in Shanghai in 2001, pledges to
enhance security, trade, cultural, military and judicial
cooperation among member countries.
(Xinhua News Agency June 28, 2007)
